Pitching horseshoe



May 11, 1937. w. D. FRAZIER PITCHING HORSESHOE Filed Nov; 19, 1935 Hm. HHH-H HIIHHII V///(//////AIIIIIIII a/w a WKM'W e ATTORNEYS Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED. S'l'A'liS ATENT rrl E Claims.

This invention relates to games, and is particularly directed to specially designed horseshoes for playing the well known game of quoits or horseshoe pitching.

5 The horseshoes for this purpose are of the same general shape as those conventionally used for shodding horses, but have structural features making it easier for the players to handle the same, and making the shoes more adaptable for ringing a stake. As is well known, the game con-j sists of the operation of pitching the shoes through some standard distance towarda stake with the objective of ringing, the stake or placing the shoe as close to it as possible. Two horseshoes are usually thrown by each of the two opp nents constituting an inning.

It is the object of the present invention to provide: a neater horseshoe than has heretofore been designed; and one which is more accurately 2o thrown and therefore moreeffectively directed for ringing the peg or stake, which is more sewiceable due to its distribution of mass and its configuration, and which is more comfortably and easily handled because of adaptationv to: the shape of the hand for a number of positions.

In a more detailed sense, it is the further objective of this invention to provide a horseshoe which has more comfortable hand holds or finger holds adaptable for any type of grip, which in- 30 eludes call rs of special shape causing the shoe to remain in the position in which it is thrown without undue displacement after it strikes the ground, which incorporates an arrangement at the ends or at the heel calks whereby the shoe will tend to continue in the path in which it is thrown when these ends strike obstructions at or about the stake, which incorporates heel calks serving as looking devices, which is abalanced construe tion with the mass formed ahead of the general 4 axis giving the shoestability in flight, which will not lean against the stake dueto the pointed or Wedge-like shape of the heel calksQin which the mass is distributed whereby it is stronger at the point at which contact with the stake occurs most often, which is easier to cast or forge, and which incorporates a configuration adjacent the toe calk on the inner side of the shoe, which primarily functions as a comfortable finger hold and secondarily functions to break spinning movement of the shoe around the stake when a ringer is thrown.

Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top, plan view of the improved horseshoe.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5 -5 Fig. l.

As stated, the element of the invention is a horseshoe adapted for use in playingagame. The device illustrated is in the formof the con: ventional horseshoe but is designed specifically and solely for use as an element to be usedin playing the game or indulging in the pastime of throwing horseshoes or quoits to a stake.

Referring to the drawing, the horseshoe is referred to generally 'at II]. It incorporates a toe calk ll at its rounded end, and heel calks l2 at the ends of its prongs. Theroundedend of 20 the shoe, including the shoulders I3 thereof, is thickened. Therefore, these shoulders, which are at the curves connecting the prongs to the rounded end of the shoe, are heavy and extremely durable. It will be understood that these shoulder portions take the greatest punishment since the inner surface of the shoe strikes the stake usually at the curved end or adjacent thereto. Assuming that the shoe may not have turned properly in flight, the shoulder portions receive the brunt of the impact since the shoe side will slide along the side of the peg or stake until the curve is encountered, whereupon the flight of the line shoe willbe abruptly terminated.

Centrally of the curved end of the shoe a re- 35 cess or notch I 4 is provided in the inner wall thereof. The ideal condition of course is to have the shoe come to the stake open end first, and to first contact the stake at the recess M. In this case no spin occurs. Now in the past it has been the practice to make this recess primarily for the purpose of stopping the spinning of the shoe about the stake when it was not thrown directly to the stake, that is to say, did not turn far enough or too far with the result that the side prong of the shoe engaged the stake first and caused whirling, which, if at high rate and un impeded, would cause the shoe to whirl off the stake. As the shoe tends to slide about the stake, the recess contacts the stake and breaks thespin. 50 In the past this recess has had relatively abrupt ends providing shoulders which functioned as abutments.

The present recess has the primary function of providing what is known as the third finger hold. 55

The grip using the third finger hold is employed by players who employ the one and three-quarters turn. They hold the shoe whereby their third finger rests at this point. It is therefore of primary importance that it be of even curvature with smooth shoulders toward the result of convenience. This groove is slightly wider than the stake, and is completely rounded at all points and preferably slightly shallower in depth than a groove used primarily as a spin break.

The feeling of comfort is believed of more importance to the player than whatever utility might come from the use of sharp shoulders in this groove.

The heel calks i2 projected from the under side of the shoe and inwardly toward each other, are shaped in the following manner and for the following purposes. The outer sides 15 of the prongs are rounded as at "5 (observed in plan view). The inner side H and outer side l6 of each calk are related or come together substantially at a right angle more or less centrally or medially of the width of the prong. The end It resulting from this is not uncomfortably sharp, being relatively pointed so as to provide no fiat area of any sort such as would maintain a contact with the stake. These points l8 will cause the shoe to slide off one way or the other in the event that the end of one of the arms is leaning against the post.

The player in holding the shoe may use what is known as the choker hold or grip, in which the forefinger lies along the side of the shoe with the outer joint hooked over and around the rounded end of the calk previously described, the base of the grip being along the side of the prong and by means of the remainder of the fingers and the palm of the hand.

The inner walls [9 of the calks are cupped, whereby the calks obtain a vacuum-like grip in the dirt or clay. This tends to prevent undue movement of the shoe, causing it to stay where pitched. Through this medium it is not so easy to move the shoes out of place when they are hit by means of other shoes in the same inning of pitching. The inner walls l9 curve continuously from the under surfaces or points of the calks to the plane of the under sides of the arms.

These surfaces l9 also function as comfortable finger holds for the little finger in certain types of grips.

It will be noted that the calks though necessarily projecting below the lower surface of the shoe as at 20 do not materially interfere with dropping or falling of the shoe right side up, that is, with the calks down. This is true for the reason that the calks have their outer walls curved rapidly toward the under points 2| thereof as at 22 (see Figure 3). This gives the player all the advantages of the pitch possible. In other words, there is less interference with the shoe falling properly. Inasmuch as the player intends for the shoe to come to rest with the calks down, it is distinctly advantageous to have it so arranged that there is no hindrance to the tendency for it to drop with the calks down. Assuming a slightly inaccurate pitch with the shoe landing on its edge, the chances for its falling with the calks down are enhanced due to this curvature.

Due to the fact that the under surfaces of the calks incline to the apex or slightly rounded point 2!, and due to the fact that the surface from the forward point l8 to the under point 25 is rounded, the calks provide less hindrance with forward movement of the shoe in a direction of travel. There is less tendency toward deflection from the path of travel upon encountering an object in its path.

Due to the shape of the calks, the shoe when coming to a position with one of the other of the heel calks leaning against the post or stake will drop one way or the other, making a ringer or a point instead of remaining in an upright position where it can be knocked away by other shoes pitched in the same inning. This result occurs since the calk does not provide much support at the points 2! and will slide oif one way or the other down one of the inclined under surfaces 22 or 23 of the particular calk.

The heel calks have been reduced and will be observed to be of less mass than those of other shoes. For this reason there is less mass of iron to interfere with movement.

The heel calks, as stated, project inwardly toward each other as at 24, and provide shoulders which are referred to as hooks. These hooks 24 are provided so as to prevent the shoe from coming off of the stake enabling the shoe to cling to the stake when spinning about the same, whereupon the shoe will slide down while spinning and assume the desired encircling position.

The inside curvature 25 of these shoulders is slightly less than that of the stake so as not to interfere with the spinning action, the extreme l portions of the hooks extending well beyond the stake when in a spin, thus giving a firm grip.

The shoe includes depressions 25 in its under side for the little finger for either a right or left hand player, these serving to receive the little finger for the one and three-quarters turn type of pitching. These grooves on the under side of the shoe at the bend portions toward the forward end thereof are approximately two inches in length. The curved portions of the shoe or shoulders as they are known are thicker at these points, the recesses being located centrally of the width of the shoulders as will appear in Figure 1.

There are also similar depressions or recesses 21 in the under side of the shoe adjacent each heel calk which receive the little finger in the grip for the one and one-quarter turn type of pitch.

There is just enough depression to accommodate the finger, it being realized that the feeling of comfort brought about by a recess accommodating the shape of the finger is a very important factor in good horseshoe pitching.

The balance point of the shoe is not centrally or exactly intermediate of the length thereof. It is more toward the toe or forward end thereof because of the distribution of mass toward this end. The shoe is thickened at the shoulders since it is realized that these parts take the most punishment in tournament pitching where a great many ringers are thrown, the shoe coming into engagement with the curved portions of the shoulder striking the stake.

If a spin is set up by engagement of the shoe with the stake at an angle, it is usually initiated by contact of one or the other prongs with the stake, the shoe then spinning about the stake until the inner extension of the particular heel calk engages the stake.

Since the balance point of the shoe is forward, the heel ends are disposed lower during travel of the shoe enabling the shoe to strike heel ends first on the rounded calks yet with little chance of the shoe turning over when going directly into the stake. The shape of the shoe is such as to permit convenient forging or casting since the draft is ample at all points.

The shoe is thicker at the region of the depressions 21 in order to maintain the necessary thick- 5 ness for strength at the bottom of the depressions.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A pitching device formed in the shape of a horseshoe including calks at its toe and heel ends, the curved portion including thickened shoulders,

elongated depressions formed in the under side surfaces of the shoe medially of the Width of the shoulder portions and following the curvature of the shoulder, said depressions providing comfortable contact spots for finger holds used by the player in gripping the shoe for pitching.

2. A pitching device formed in the shape of a horseshoe including calks at its toe and heel ends, elongated depressions formed in the under side of the shoe centrally of the shoulder portions and following the curvature of the surfaces, said depressions providing comfortable contact spots for finger holds used by the player in gripping the shoe for pitching.

3. An element adapted to be pitched to a stake 5 for the purpose of ringing the stake, said element formed in the shape of a horseshoe and including calks on its under side at its heel and toe ends, elongated depressions formed in the under sides of the respective arms of the element adjacent to the heel calks and extending along or lengthwise of these arms medially thereof.

4. A pitching device formed in the shape of a horeshoe including calks at its toe and heel ends, elongated depressions formed in the under side of the shoe centrally of the shoulder portions and following the curvature of the surfaces, said depresions providing comfortable contact spots for finger holds used by the player in gripping the shoe for pitching, and elongated depressions formed in the under sides of the respective arms of the element adjacent to the heel calks and extending along or lengthwise of these arms medially thereof.

5. An element adapted to be used in the game of pitching horseshoes and of the same general shape as a horseshoe, said element having heel calks on the ends of its arms and a toe calk centrally of its rounded end, said calks projecting from the underside of the element, the heel calks providing rounded tips disposed downwardly and endwise with respect to the arm in the instance of each heel calk, the side surfaces of the heel calks being curved to the juncture forming the endwise projected tip and the under surfaces being curved to the juncture forming the downwardly projecting tip, said tips being entirely rounded whereby the element will not rest against the stake in a leaning position if a heel calk is engaged against the stake but will slide off either to provide a ringer or to lie against the side of the stake.

WILLIAM D. FRAZIER. 

